Renewing Vanos Seals - Rattle repair as well?

[Zikim]

I want to renew the Vanos seals with the upgrade kit next weekend - the question is do I do the rattle upgrade even though I don't have the problem at this moment in time? My current mileage is 130k.

If I do decide to do the rattle upgrade I only have an impact driver that you hit with a hammer, is this advisable to use or is there another method?

Thanks in advance for replies.

 

[Stratts]

You'll need a vice, proper impact driver and a few other bits. Drop a PM to Guido if you need further advice.

My advice is not to bother unless you have or are willing to go and buy the proper tools.

 

[GuidoK]

If I do decide to do the rattle upgrade I only have an impact driver that you hit with a hammer, is this advisable to use or is there another method?

Thanks in advance for replies.

You definately need an impact wrench (air or electric) for the anti rattle install, so a tool like this:

And you need vise jaw liners made out of plastic.

Dont get aluminium ones with rubber strips.
The vanos piston needs to be clamped pretty tight, and it's going to spin in the vise (with each air blow a few degrees, about 15 blows needed depending on the force of the wrench).

You won't be able to open the vanos piston otherwise. (if you only do the seals this all isn't necessary obviously)


If the anti rattle is needed or not is hard to tell.
I thing every vanos has some play. The anti rattle kit is made to remove excessive play. That can be because of wear on the inner vanos bearings (not likely) or wear on the helix gears on the end of the camshafts (that happens with mileage), or if you install tuning cams.
So if an anti rattle kit is adviceable is only clear when you removed it.
The anti rattle kit works good, it removes all the play in the vanos itself (It doesn't do anythig to the helix gears obviously)
If you don't have a rattle now, it probably isn't necessary.
I don't know what the general situation is on 130k miles cars. If you regulary drive long distances (so the engine gets heated properly and you don't have sludge in the area under the oil filler cap) and is serviced properly, I wouldn't install the anti rattle kit on forehand. If the helix gears are in bad condition, you can order anti rattle kits in the uk if you need them quickly.

To give you an idea:
This is my vanos, you can see minor play on the helix gears when I pull on the vanos piston when I installed the anti rattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw5CopT5n2A

This is a video from another install. He has visably a lot more play in the gears. His engine has probably done more miles, also judging on the darker engine head colour (old/burnt oil residu):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV4tDb_qgjk

So if your helix gears move like the second video, it might be better to install the anti rattle. He opens up the vanospiston with a cordless impact, but my vanos was a bit thighter than that I think.

 

[Zikim]

Thanks for the good advice GuidoK, it has given me a very good insight to what needs to be done if I decide to do the anti rattle install.

I want to do the Vanos seals and the anti rattle install (if needed) in 1-2 days, so it looks like I will have to buy the anti rattle kit in advance with the seal kit.

 

[Zikim]

Which is the best anti rattle kit to go for?

Is it the one from i6 which is a replacement vanos piston bearing ring or the kit from X8R which provides an additional washer (but keeps the original vanos piston bearing ring)?